Some pics from Golden State Bonsai Federation convention last weekend

[BrianBay9]

GSBF convention was in Sacramento last weekend.

 

[BrianBay9]

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[BrianBay9]

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[BrianBay9]

I haven't been to the GSBF convention in over a decade. I like the trees. The background make for very clean pics and viewing. I like the color of the tables too. Spent lots of time in the vendor area.

 

[BobbyLane]

love this

what species is it?

 

[faker]

love this

what species is it?

redwood if I remember correctly

 

[PaulH]

love this

what species is it?

Coast Redwood

 

[BobbyLane]

Coast Redwood

Sequoia sempervirens

its a very natural representation of how the species would look in its natural habitat isnt it, awesome work! well complimented by the shallow rectangle.

 

[JudyB]

Wow that little princess persimmon is wonderful. Still looking for one of those! I enjoy the display with the folded screen behind too, it encloses the space in a way that I like.

 

[BrianBay9]

Wow that little princess persimmon is wonderful. Still looking for one of those! I enjoy the display with the folded screen behind too, it encloses the space in a way that I like.

Yes I like it too. Interesting display though. It seems the persimmon and the JBP carry approximately equal weight in the display. Which is the primary tree? Does it matter?

 

[JudyB]

That is an interesting puzzle, as the persimmon is so much higher, it must be the primary, right? But of course, most pines are the primary. I don't know how it would score in a display competition, but the trees themselves are nice.

 

[Bananaman]

That is an interesting puzzle, as the persimmon is so much higher, it must be the primary, right? But of course, most pines are the primary. I don't know how it would score in a display competition, but the trees themselves are nice.

They are both primary trees in their own right and therefore should not be shown together as part of a display. The pine should be shown with the appropriate size secondary tree, and the cascade should be shown with the appropriate flower display, never a stone depicting a mountain, it is implied that it is a cascade so already on a mountainside.

 

[BrianBay9]

They are both primary trees in their own right and therefore should not be shown together as part of a display. The pine should be shown with the appropriate size secondary tree, and the cascade should be shown with the appropriate flower display, never a stone depicting a mountain, it is implied that it is a cascade so already on a mountainside.

Thanks Al. It looks odd to me, and I guess that's why.

 

[JudyB]

They are both primary trees in their own right and therefore should not be shown together as part of a display. The pine should be shown with the appropriate size secondary tree, and the cascade should be shown with the appropriate flower display, never a stone depicting a mountain, it is implied that it is a cascade so already on a mountainside.

Makes sense to me , and why the display felt off. I would think the persimmon by itself with a simple accent would be stunning. Thanks al.

 

[Bananaman]

Makes sense to me , and why the display felt off. I would think the persimmon by itself with a simple accent would be stunning. Thanks al.

Being fall during the convention is perfect for the fruiting tree and being orange to boot. A small tuft of dried grass in a thimble pot of a dark brooding color of dark green or turquoise would have set that tree on fire.

I am sorry to say that while the GSBF is an extraordinary bonsai body, when it comes to the display part it is sorely lacking. During the convention much of the governance is on the raffle (money), workshops (money) and vendor area (more money). For the convention, no money is to be made on the display part of the show. It takes a lot of room and frankly would be better spent making more money with workshops. The display room probably costs around 4000.00 for the weekend and generates no money. It almost seems as though it’s there to remind you of why you came. They need a bonsai display educated Joe Arpaio running the display portion and do it right. The show is never judged and no one recieves any accolades, there is no yearly book of the trees on display, why bother bringing the best stuff.

I have been to a lot of homes around the State, and seen thousands of bonsai over the last three plus decades, why the best trees are never in the convention is still a mystery to me.

Politics is a bitch.....

 

[JudyB]

Being fall during the convention is perfect for the fruiting tree and being orange to boot. A small tuft of dried grass in a thimble pot of a dark brooding color of dark green or turquoise would have set that tree on fire.

YES.

 

[Bananaman]

YES.

Displaying bonsai properly is an exercise in restraint.

From Shinji Suzuki, Fresno Convention 2003:

“Displaying bonsai in America seems to be about showing everything you own in one day”.

I have never forgotten those words. Like a ton of bricks.

 

[my nellie]

... ...Politics is a bitch.....

Tree politics!!!
Unbelievable!!!

 

[Bananaman]

Tree politics!!!
Unbelievable!!!

Commiefornia is a bastion of bonsai politics.

 

[PaulH]

Being fall during the convention is perfect for the fruiting tree and being orange to boot. A small tuft of dried grass in a thimble pot of a dark brooding color of dark green or turquoise would have set that tree on fire.

I am sorry to say that while the GSBF is an extraordinary bonsai body, when it comes to the display part it is sorely lacking. During the convention much of the governance is on the raffle (money), workshops (money) and vendor area (more money). For the convention, no money is to be made on the display part of the show. It takes a lot of room and frankly would be better spent making more money with workshops. The display room probably costs around 4000.00 for the weekend and generates no money. It almost seems as though it’s there to remind you of why you came. They need a bonsai display educated Joe Arpaio running the display portion and do it right. The show is never judged and no one recieves any accolades, there is no yearly book of the trees on display, why bother bringing the best stuff.

I have been to a lot of homes around the State, and seen thousands of bonsai over the last three plus decades, why the best trees are never in the convention is still a mystery to me.

Politics is a bitch.....

Kathy Shaner set up the display, and I respect her work, but that and a couple of other things didn't seem right.
This year at the new venue the display room didn't cost us any extra $. We paid a flat fee for the entire conference center (and much less than any previous convention).an
I've been involved in recruiting show trees at several conventions and we have indeed solicited some of the finest private collections in Ca. and mostly been turned down for a variety of reasons, most often concern for the safety of their priceless trees.
I have lobbied for the exhibit to be judged and been shot down with the separate judged exhibit being a compromise. It seems that a lot of the California bonsai establishment are hesitant (afraid?) to have their trees judged.